Mount Evans, Colorado

On the day Sam graduated from High School (May 22, 2009) the road to Mt. Evans opened in Colorado. On Saturday, the 23rd we headed toward the summit, hoping to go all the way to the top. The weather (and an accident further up the road) didn't allow us to go beyond Summit Lake but we completely enjoyed the drive - Mount Evans Scenic Byway is America's highest paved road. It was completed in 1927 with state funds and is a favorite destination for Coloradans and tourists alike.

We started at Idaho Springs, 8,700 feet, a well-preserved mining town and the birthplace of the Rocky Mountain Gold Rush and drove along some of Colorado's most dramatic scenery to 14,240 feet at the summit - passing through 3 life zones, passing ancient trees, lakes and forest above treeline. It can be 90 degrees in Denver and 40 degrees at the top of Mount Evans (it was colder than that on this day). We saw mountain goats and bighorn sheep as we drove to the glacial lake. It is nothing short of spectacular!! We could see the storm coming as we clamored around, taking photos and trying not to freeze and indeed by the time we exited the park, they were closing the road due to bad weather conditions.

Clouds over Mt. Evans


Top of the World, Ma!


Idaho Springs Firehouse


Summit Lake, formed by glaciers - it's a good example of an alpine lake


Here's a link to an earlier blog post about Mt. Evans - when I went up there with Madddie two years ago in July - just so you can see the difference in weather!

Gnarled cypress trees, just below Summit Lake

Driving from Estes Park

In Denver for Sam's graduation, we spent a day in Estes Park and drove up through Rocky Mountain National Park. Rain threatened and eventually came down but the scenery was breathtakingly beautiful. I did some "drive-by sketching" and we all had fun taking photos and just being together.

"Drive-by Sketching" - a few pages from my watercolor journal




We came upon this lovely church dedicated in 1936 to honor St. Catherine of Siena. St. Malo Historic Church - The Chapel on the Rock - is located on Peak to Peak Scenic Byway near Allenspark, Colorado, within Rocky Mountain National Park. We practically came to a screeching halt when we saw this beautiful site, and we all got out to explore further. For $1000 you can reserve the chapel for weddings (302-747-0201) A stunning stained glass window of St. Catherine was created by the world renowned Franz Mayer and Sons Glass Works in Munich Germany and in 1993 Pope John Paul II visited here during his trip to Denver for World Youth Day.


Stopping for a multi-photo op in the mountains


Rocky Mountain Park scenery

Playing around at Red Rocks, Colorado

Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre is about 15 miles west of Denver and about 15 minutes away from my sister's house in Arvada. We were in Colorado for Sam's high school graduation and decided to drive over to the park to try to catch the sunset. At the park you can stop in at the Visitor's Center for the Rock and Roll museum there and catch a concert at the Amphitheatre or hike the trails around the breathtaking red rock formations. We were there the for the incredible scenery and some clowining around.

Red Rocks Park, Colorado


Driving through Red Rocks Park


Red Rocks Amphitheatre (there was a high school graduation taking place that day)


Me and Jessica


Jess & Madison trying to give me a heart attack


Jessica and Madison, Red Rocks and the coming thunder storm


Statue and Plaque commemorating the 3 million workers who served in the Civilian Conservation Corp from 1933 to 1942 and built Red Rocks Amphiteatheatre from 1936 to 1941. The CCC was established by Franklin Delano Roosevelt during the New Deal, to conserve our natural resources and provide work for young men during the Great Depression. Among their accomplishments, they planted trees, constructed public roadways and buildings, taught soil preservation to private citizens, developed the parks system, and reintroduced wildlife to depleted areas in addition to supporting their own families and advancing the standard of living in surrounding communities. Proof that government intervention in a crisis can make a difference in people's lives.

Sam graduated High School!

Congratulations to our niece Samantha who graduated from Ralston Valley High School on May 22, 2009. The ceremony took place on the campus of the University of Colorado at Boulder and (almost) the whole Bivetto family gathered for the occasion!

We're so proud of you Sam!!

Here's Sam at home before we left for Boulder


We had an eagle's view of the students gathered below and spotted Sam in the crowd


All the wildly waving and cheering parents got a reaction from the students!

More Sam's Graduation

The Graduate!


Happy Graduate walking back to her seat


Sam's boyfriend Greyson graduated too


Sam, Maddie and Suzanne posing for many cameras


Our family gathered for this happy occasion - (l t r) Fred, Elaine, Sal, me, Jesica, Madison, Freddie, Suzanne) Waiting for Sam to exit the auditorium

Festa San Giorgio, Ragusa Ibla, Italy

The Feast day of San Giorgio, the patron saint of Ragusa Ibla, Sicily (we lived in nearby Marina di Ragusa) is celebrated on the last Sunday of May - this weekend. Our "note" on this event is featured on today's ItalianNotebook.com but here's a little peak. It's easy to subscribe to this brief, free, daily taste of Italy by going to the site.



Buon Festa San Giorgio!

Watercolor Journaling Workshop

On Friday evening May 15 and Saturday May 16, I led a Watercolor Journaling workshop for the Mispillion Art League. Friday was mostly "show and tell" - talking about what I do and how I do it and showing the nine other artist members my journals and other examples of what watercolor journaling is all about.

On Saturday we met at the gallery and went out into downtown Milford, Delaware to sketch and journal. Our weekly Farmer's Market was in full swing and it was so much fun to see artists out sketching and painting. It added such a lovely dimension to the day and the people coming out to buy locally grown fresh produce, flowers, bread, meats and cheeses and exotic mushrooms (just to name some of the things on hand!) were curious enough to stop and talk with them and they found many lovely details to capture with pen, ink and watercolors!

On the way back to the gallery at the end of the day I couldn't resist making an entry in my own journal and joining the group painting some of the sketches they had made in pen and ink, to see what that felt like - to draw outside and paint later. Everyone seemed to have a great time and we have now planned to meet in two weeks to go out and try it again!

Thanks to everyone who participated! It was a terrific, energetic group, with diverse talents and backgrounds and just the most fun to hang out with all day!!